Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-16
ON THE POTOMAC.
Campaign Of South Mountain
and the Antietam.
M'CLELLAN'S LAST BATTLE,
Lees Invasion Of Maryland
Twenty-Five Years Ago,

How stonewall Jackson's Men Sang
"My Maryland" on the Potomac.
"The Lord Bless Your Ragged, Dirty
Souls!'-Lces Lost Dispatch-I;attle
of the Three Mountain Passcs--Cap-
ture of Harpcr's Ferry by the Confed-
erates-The SunlSen Road ut Sharps-
burg-Dunker Church.
In the CONSERVATION that rcigned at Wash
ington after the second battle of Bull Run,
Aug. 80, 1862, Hallecl wrote hasty note to
Mcclellan, as follows: "Nou will retain the
command of everything in this vicinity not
temporarily to be Pope's army in the field.
/ beg of you to assist me in this crisis with
your ability and experience"
Mcclellan, at the time of receiving this
note, was not in command of ANYTHING to
speak Of His army had been mostly sent to
Pope in Virginia. IIaleck's order meant
that Mcclellan was to take command of the
defenses of the city of Washington. and that
Immediately.
After the bloody fight of Chantilly, Sept
/, Cen Pope's Union army-what was left of
it-stlaggled into Washington, ragged, foot
sore, and half starved They were allowed
TO rest and pull themselves together again
for a few days within the intrCnchmcnts of
the city. Meantime, Pope once more re-
qEcSted to lie relieved of his command and
SCI. bacl, west. His request was allowed.
Sept. he turned his face westward, and his
back on that eastern army which he believed
had never supported him sincerely Many
of his countrymen shared the same opinion.
1t was declared that had Mcclellan hurried
iranklin's and Summers corps forward to
the support of Pope, as he had been ordered
to do, the Union defeat at the second Bull
Run would not have happened Horace
Greeley, in his american Conflict says so
in so many words He writes: Had they
been there two days earlier, and had Porter
now and then condescended to obey an order,
that defeat might have been transformed
into a victory"
At any rate, whatsoever the fault. Popc's
bloody and unsatisfactory campaign was
over. His star in the east had gone down.
The eyes of the country once more turned to
Mcclellan Those first years Of the war
were on the Union side, desperate hunting
after great generals.
Sept. 9, President Lincoln and Gen. Hal
leck placed Mcclellan again at the head Of
oil the eastern army. They personally called
at his house and asked him to take command
again. The Army Of Virginia was no more,
and the reorganized Army Of the Potomac
loso upon us IuIHS.
The army in Washington having rested,
still formed as fine body Of fighting men as
need be. Rest brought back their old spirits,
recruits poured III from all quarters, and soon
filled out the s.,eletonized regiments Sept. Z
Mcclellan led cut of Washington an army
5000 strong. A new campaign was to re-
store the confidence Of the country in her
Young Napoleon.
Banks was left in command Of the defenses
at Washington. Mcclellan led OUT frora the
city the First, Second, Sixth Ninth and
Twelfth army corps, commando respect
lively by Hooker, Sumner, Fra.Iniin. Reno
and Mansfield Gen. COUGHS division of the
Fourth corps was attached to the Sixth.
Fltz John Porter, with his Fifth army corps,
Joined Mcclellan Sept II. Tie total strength
Of las Uri.:y is put ut this date at la ,946 OF
this $ .enoId army, Burnside commanded
the II al, GUNNER the center and Franklin
the leit. n. Alfred Pieasonton had charge
of the cavalry In this order the army of
the Potomac advanced once moro To try con-
illusions w.,h Lee and his men. They did not
eXarty know where Lee was yet hut it was
not long III! they found out.